Just Collected Our M-Jet - 1st Thoughts

1. De-ice the screen before setting off - it really helps!
2. Try to avoid driving on unlit roads you don't know when its foggy.
3. Scan the major controls before you set off, not when you are lost.
4. Try to remember to put the satnav in the lead car on the way home.
5. Check the screen wash tank has some water in it before you smear the screen.
6. Further to rule 5, try to locate the screen wash tank before you set off, not in the unlit air/water section of a "HGV only" service area.

Other than that, I am very impressed. Drove home in silence (other than the sound of the MP3 player) at a steady 55mph - trip showing some crazy figures on the instantaneous MPG, like 120.5 for over 2 miles. Brilliant. Car came with half a tank so that'll last about 3 weeks I think.

Stereo is better than our 306 HDi, shame no steering wheel controls but I can live without them I think. Gearbox is lovely but the clutch will take some adapting to, I'm overdriving it at the moment as the 306's clutch is a proper He-Man job. Driving position is spot-on, very reminiscent of our late lamented Scenic, in fact the whole car is very Scenic-esque, just in a smaller (and more solid-feeling) package.

Were we right to choose this over a Ka? Handling wise, no. Initial impressions on build quality and equipment, yes. Economy, yes no question. Ultimately only time will tell I suppose but so far its looking like the Panda is the favourite. Cool key too, just like a VW's.

is that screen wash filler still in the same stupid place?

I got my MJ today too and was suprised and the figures the instant mpg readout gives sometime. I'm sure i saw 144.1mpg!
Any how your right about the chocie over a KA. The mrs has one and its fun to drive, but the panda seems better at everything else.

I was suprised at how flash the key was too! Its nifty

Was that meant to be a compliment to the FIAT brand? I think I might be sick...

Glad to hear your enjoying your new car.

Yus, it has pink antifreeze too, just like VW G12+. Which is handy. Because our local Fiat dealer said "We haven't got any in because we've only just become a Fiat franchise", umm like 4 months ago!!!!! Oh dear, the horror stories about dealers may be true, gulp.

If you mean buried under the drivers side headlight, and half way down in the engine bay, yes it is. Got to be the dumbest place ever, I was about to start looking in the boot (which is were it is in my 1994 Mini and THAT is easier to get to!!!).

Is the filler neck accessible? How do you tell if it's empty, beyond the sprayers not working? Are we relying on electronics?!

Out of interest, what capacity is the washer bottle? I hope to $DEITY that it's bigger than the 2.75 metric eggcupfuls that the CX has. Mind you, at least that's easy to get to

Cheers,
J

when you pop the bonnet, you'll see it easily enough, and getting to it is fine too, but actually filling it......pain in teh arse, i use a cut down evian bottle, takes quite a bit to fill too

Why haven't they moved it up to the same place the 100hp, so much easier to fill.

It's not too bad filling the washer bottle really... I have a little funnel that I use. The washer bottle is quite small - It only holds about a litre. I usually fill it up when I wash the car. I've never run out yet, despite living on a very mucky mountain road!

Isn't it great that spoolio's post has developed into a sort of "the biggest problem I have with my Panda is filling the washer bottle" thread. That's the kind of problematic car I could probably live with...

Hehehehehe, good point. Thats kind of why I love forums. Perhaps we ought to start a competition to see how quickly we can get from one point to another, whilst still staying roughly on topic

Have found one moan so far - and its only a tiddler. As I only have the 'little' trip computer, not the reconfigurable one, I miss my outside temp monitor. You don't realise how much you miss it until you don't have one, especially on days like these. As a bare minimum a simple ice warning light should be mandatory on all cars these days, its a valuable safety thing.

The Alfa GT I got as a courtesy car when my Panda was in for some warranty work had one of those warnings for frost. I thought it really funny. I mean like I just had to defrost the windscreen, of course I know it's frosty... Lol

i thought they all "pinged" when it's icy out?